Hi everyone. I’ve got a couple of Arducam PTZ cameras (5MP and 8MP) running on a Raspberry Pi 5 and I’m stuck. The 5MP camera’s image sensor just won’t work at all - I’ve never gotten it to actually produce an image, even after many attempts. The 8MP camera does work, but every corner of the image has this red shading/tint. Any ideas what’s going on?
Thanks for the details. From what you’re describing, the 5MP (OV5647) module looks like a genuine hardware fault - a dead sensor would explain why it never produces an image. For the 8MP (IMX219), the red tint in the corners is actually a known characteristic of that sensor, not something wrong with your particular unit. Let’s work on the IMX219 first since there may be a software-side workaround.
Appreciate the quick reply. Just to be clear on both problems: the 5MP image sensor still isn’t working at all, and the 8MP shows red shading in each corner. For the IMX219 red corners, what can actually be done about it?
On the IMX219, the corner red tint is inherent to the sensor itself - it’s not a defect that would go away by swapping the board, since the sensor just behaves that way. Let me look into a software approach that can compensate for it.
Okay, understood on the IMX219. What’s the solution then? Also, is there another sensor or camera module you’d recommend that’s more reliable and plays nicer with programming and control?
Here’s a software workaround that should correct the red corners. I’ve sent you a custom camera tuning file through private message - it’s called imx219_120d.json. To apply it: 1) Copy the file to /home/pi on the Pi. 2) In the PTZ-Camera-Controller repo (GitHub - ArduCAM/PTZ-Camera-Controller · GitHub), open RpiCamera.py. 3) Find the line: self.cam = Picamera2() 4) Change it to: self.cam = Picamera2(tuning=“/home/pi/imx219_120d.json”) 5) Save and quit. 6) Then run FocuserExample.py again and see if the red corners are gone: PTZ-Camera-Controller/FocuserExample.py at master · ArduCAM/PTZ-Camera-Controller · GitHub
I tried the tuning change you suggested, but now I’m getting an error notice. I’ve sent you the error file plus a couple of screenshots through private message so you can see what’s happening.
Thanks, I’ve received the error files. The tuning JSON is throwing an error somewhere, but I need to see the Pi directly to pin down exactly where. I’ve sent you the remote support details through private message - please check your messages. Pick a time that works, then share the remote session ID and password there so I can access the Pi and dig into the error. Note we’re on UTC+8, and the late-evening slots are unavailable for remote support.